NC State

35 years ago today, NC State was on top of the basketball world

NC State's Derrick Whittenburg, left, Thurl Bailey, and Sidney Lowe hoist the 1983 NCAA Championship trophy after the Wolfpack defeated Houston to win the National championship on April 5, 1983.
NC State's Derrick Whittenburg, left, Thurl Bailey, and Sidney Lowe hoist the 1983 NCAA Championship trophy after the Wolfpack defeated Houston to win the National championship on April 5, 1983. News & Observer file photo

To the Wolfpack, 35 years doesn’t seem all that long.

Especially on the 35th anniversary of N.C. State’s second and latest NCAA national title in men’s basketball.

It was April 4, 1983 when The Cardiac Pack became the first 10-loss team to win nine straight tournament road games en route to a national title.

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The winning play in Albuquerque became instant tournament gold: An errant-shot-turned-pass from Dereck Whittenburg to Lorenzo Charles gave Jim Valvano’s team the 54-52 victory at the buzzer over the favored “Phi Slama Jama” Houston squad led by Akeem Olajuwon.

NC State player Lorenzo Charles dunks the winning shot at the buzzer to win the 1983 NCAA National Championship.
NC State player Lorenzo Charles dunks the winning shot at the buzzer to win the 1983 NCAA National Championship. News & Observer file photo


Here’s some additional coverage related to the members of the 1983 championship team:

[1983 NC State basketball team finally gets a White House ceremony]

[Dereck Whittenburg: Still the big man on NC State campus]

[Valvano, Jamison and Shelden Williams named to ACC Legends class]

[NCSU to hang ‘74, ‘83 basketball title banners. Where have they been all these years?]

[Statues of former coaches unveiled at renovated Reynolds Coliseum]

North Carolina State's Thurl Bailey (41), Houston's Akeem Abdul Olajuwon, rear, and Houston's Larry Micheaux, right, go for the rebound during NCAA game Monday night, April 4, 1983 in Albuquerque, N.M.
North Carolina State's Thurl Bailey (41), Houston's Akeem Abdul Olajuwon, rear, and Houston's Larry Micheaux, right, go for the rebound during NCAA game Monday night, April 4, 1983 in Albuquerque, N.M. AP PHOTO
CBS announcer Billy Packer, left, interviews N.C. State seniors Thurl Bailey, Dereck Whittenburg, and Sidney Lowe after the Wolfpack won the National Championship on April 4, 1983. The Wolfpack won the game 54-52.
CBS announcer Billy Packer, left, interviews N.C. State seniors Thurl Bailey, Dereck Whittenburg, and Sidney Lowe after the Wolfpack won the National Championship on April 4, 1983. The Wolfpack won the game 54-52. News & OBSERVER FILE PHOTO

This story was originally published April 4, 2018 at 10:46 AM with the headline "35 years ago today, NC State was on top of the basketball world."

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